A drone strike sparked a fire at a defense contractor in Cheboksary, Chuvashia Republic, forcing the facility to halt production of military equipment used by Russian forces in Ukraine.

AT “VNDIR-Progress” suspended operations after two drones struck the facility, according to Chuvash Republic head Oleg Nikolaev. The company manufactures “Kometa” satellite signal receivers that help Russian military drones evade Ukrainian electronic warfare systems, Telegram channel Astra reports.

“Two UAVs fell on the territory of AT ‘VNDIR’, which led to a decision to temporarily halt production to ensure employee safety,” Nikolaev said on Telegram. “One more drone each fell in fields of Cheboksary and Krasnoarmeysky municipal districts – there is no threat to people.”

The official made no mention of fire damage at the plant, noting only that there were no casualties and “all services are working in enhanced mode.”

However, Astra published photos and videos showing flames engulfing sections of the factory complex. The facility is located over 1,000 kilometers from Ukraine.

AT “VNDIR-Progress” operates as part of the “ABS Electro” manufacturing group. According to the company website, it develops and produces “scientific and technical products, software and hardware systems, automation and control systems, electrical products, electronic component base, electronic modules and radio-electronic products.”

Astra reports the plant specifically manufactures “Kometa/Kometa M” family satellite signal receivers for Russian armed forces. These devices enable Russian military units to circumvent Ukrainian electronic warfare capabilities.

Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed air defenses destroyed and intercepted 49 Ukrainian unmanned aircraft overnight. The ministry reported shooting down 13 drones each over Kursk and Nizhny Novgorod oblasts, nine each over Voronezh and Orel oblasts, two each over Bryansk Oblast and Chuvash Republic, and one over Belgorod Oblast.

On the night of 9 June, authorities imposed temporary flight restrictions at four Russian airports while explosions echoed through Cheboksary.

Sergey Surovikin, former Commander of the Russian Group of Forces in Ukraine, has appeared publicly for the first time since 2023, reportedly taking up a new role as “head of a group of Russian military specialists” at the Russian Embassy in Algeria. According to the British Ministry of Defence’s Defence Intelligence update on 27 May, photographs released by the Russian Embassy depict a visibly thinner Surovikin participating in an event commemorating Russia’s 9 May Victory Day.

Public absence followed Wagner mutiny

The Ministry reported that Surovikin had not been seen in public for many months following the failed June 2023 mutiny by the Wagner Group, which was led by Yevgeny Prigozhin. The uprising was publicly denounced by Russian President Vladimir Putin as “treason.” Surovikin, who also served as commander-in-chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS), did not appear in official functions during the period following the mutiny.

Reports of arrest, resignation unconfirmed

The report notes that there were no public confirmations regarding Surovikin’s arrest or detention in relation to the mutiny. The Russian Defense Ministry (MoD) did not officially declare his resignation. However, by September 2023, references to him were reportedly removed from the Ministry of Defense’s website, suggesting a change in his status.

“Russian authorities were likely suspicious of Surovikin’s long association with Wagner dating back to his operational activity in Syria, a notable operational nexus for Wagner, from 2017. Surovikin also served as point of contact for Wagner with the Russian MOD,” the intelligence update reads.